A recently leaked memo originating from the state attorney’s office and addressed to the Department of Home Affairs, sheds light on the concerning state of the Department’s visa backlog. The backlog has surged to an alarming figure of more than 95 000 pending applications.
The memo underscores potential repercussions of this backlog, as highlighted by the state attorney’s office. These include disruptions to immigration processes, heightened national security risks resulting from rushed application processing by the Department of Home Affairs, and a broader hindrance to economic growth due to the obstruction of skilled individuals entering the country.
Of particular concern is the apparent lack of improvement in the situation. Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, in a recent parliamentary Q&A session in December 2023, acknowledged that the backlog for temporary residency visas remained at a staggering 74 309—unchanged from the Department’s last update in October 2023. Additionally, a backlog of 43 944 in permanent residency permits persists.